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Counsellor · Supervisor · Mindfulness teacher

Everyone deserves to reach their full potential

I'm Theresa Martinovich, a registered counsellor in Orewa on the Hibiscus Coast. For over two decades I've sat alongside people working through anxiety, addiction, trauma and the seasons of life that feel too heavy to carry alone.

MNZAC registered DAPAANZ registered MCouns · 1st class hons
Theresa Martinovich, counsellor, smiling outdoors in front of green foliage.
Currently accepting new clients
20+years of counselling practice
3sessions — where most clients notice a shift
200+adults taught mindfulness
Zoomsessions available NZ-wide
How I work

Professional, warm and confidential

My non-judgemental approach will help you work through the barriers keeping you from living fully. I encourage and support you to find solutions that are genuine and specific to you.

01

We start where you are

In our first session I'll ask about your background so I understand your situation properly. Together we set goals and make a plan around how many sessions your concerns might take.

02

Brief, solution-focused work

I'm skilled in brief solution-focused therapy, and the majority of my clients see significant shifts within the first three sessions. You won't be here longer than you need to be.

03

The therapy that suits you

My training spans cognitive behavioural, solution-focused, acceptance and commitment, and existential therapies, grounded in person-centred practice — plus sandtray and interactive drawing.

Areas I specialise in

Anxiety Depression Addictions — alcohol & other drugs Sexual abuse Domestic violence Stress management Mindfulness Motivation for long-term projects
“We know what we are, but not what we may be.”
William Shakespeare
What I offer

Three ways we can work together

Individual & couple counselling

One-hour sessions in Orewa or over Zoom, for teenagers through to mature adults. I'm comfortable working cross-culturally and I welcome diversity.

Group facilitation

Anger management programmes and mindfulness groups. I'm a qualified teacher of the Koru/MIEA Mindfulness programme and have taught over 200 adults.

Clinical supervision

Supervision for practitioners, backed by a Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Supervision and two decades of frontline experience across mental health and addiction services.

In their words

What clients and supervisees say

Her non-judgmental, calm and accepting approach immediately allowed me to feel incredibly safe. I felt like it was ok to disclose my deepest fears and not be judged about my reactions and ways of coping. She helped me to heal, to learn and to grow.

AlisonClient

Theresa is a warm, supportive and pragmatic supervisor. Her vast experience and highly considered judgement are invaluable. I learnt from Theresa in every session, because she valued my time and energy as much as her own — so I always left with what I needed.

Emma Mackie-WattsSupervisee

Ready when you are

Thursdays in Orewa, or online on other days. Reach out and we'll find a time that works.

About me

Two decades alongside people in hard seasons

I specialise in helping people identify and achieve their personal goals by coping with the issues causing them distress and anxiety. I am professional, warm and confidential.

My counselling background

I have worked as a counsellor for over two decades in a number of different settings in both Northland and Auckland. I have a background in community and mental health, and alcohol and drug services, and I have worked at two university health and counselling centres, at Rape Crisis, and held a private practice for 12 years in Northland.

I am very experienced counselling clients from teenage years to mature adults and feel comfortable working cross-culturally — I welcome diversity. I have worked for Victim Support, Family Court and EAP services, delivered anger management programmes and taught mindfulness groups. I have had a private practice at Orewa since 2019.

My therapeutic approach

My non-judgemental approach will assist you to work through any barriers that are hindering you from living and reaching your full potential. I am skilled with brief solution-focused work, and the majority of my clients see significant shifts within the first three sessions.

My background training is in a range of therapies including cognitive behavioural, solution-focused, acceptance and commitment, and existential therapies. Because of my working background with addictions, I also utilise motivational interviewing. My foundation training is in person-centred therapy — generally, this means that I encourage and support you to find the solutions that are genuine and specific to you, using the therapies that are most suitable to you.

My specialist areas

Due to past work experiences, my areas of specialty include addictions (including alcohol and other drugs), sexual abuse, domestic violence, depression, anxiety, mindfulness and stress management. I can also provide motivation for long-term projects.

Additional to talking therapies, I use sandtray and interactive drawing therapies, and I provide clinical supervision. I am a qualified teacher of the Koru/MIEA Mindfulness programme and have taught over 200 adults the fundamental skills of meditation and living more mindfully.

Who am I?

I am originally from Ruawai in Northland, New Zealand, but moved to Auckland in 2006. I have five adult children and five grandies, including identical twin granddaughters — family are the most important thing to me.

I regularly practice meditation and find this has helped me be more responsive instead of reactive to my feelings. I love the sea and all it encompasses. I walk the beach every day and enjoy boating, fishing and swimming.

My services

Services & fees

Sessions are one hour. My private practice is at The Practice, 498 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Orewa — Thursdays in person, or online on other days.

Individual & couple counselling

Working with anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, relationship difficulties and life transitions — for teenagers through to mature adults.

Group facilitation

Anger management programmes and Koru/MIEA mindfulness groups teaching the fundamental skills of meditation and living more mindfully.

Clinical supervision

Reflective, structured supervision for counsellors and practitioners, with particular strength in working with risk.

My costs

Individual counsellingOne-hour session, in person or Zoom $140
Couple counsellingOne-hour session, in person or Zoom $180
Clinical supervisionPlease get in touch to discuss Enquire

Payment is by cash or bank transfer on the day, or prior to attending.

Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice will be charged at the full rate.

Funded counselling

I am registered to provide counselling funded by:

Benestar / Stratos Telus Health Vitae Victim Support

What to expect at the first session

I will ask background information at our first session to help me understand your situation. We will then set some goals and make a plan around the number of sessions it might take to work through your concerns.

Useful stuff

Support & resources

Free New Zealand helplines, websites and apps that can help right now — whether or not we ever work together.

If you need to talk to someone right now, free call or text 1737 any time, day or night, to speak with a trained counsellor. In an emergency, call 111.

Anxiety

Depression

Mindfulness

  • AppKoru/MIEA Mindfulness
  • AppCalm
  • AppInsight Timer

Sexual violence

Violence

Alcohol and drugs

Testimonials

In their own words

Shared with permission by clients and supervisees I have worked alongside.

Doing a PhD abroad presents a number of challenges. I have been seeking guidance from Theresa for the last 2.5 years of my doctoral studies to facilitate navigating through my problems, so I could reach my goals. She has helped me devise practical plans for problem solving, using a variety of techniques. Theresa is personable, generous, outgoing and positive. She is a recommended asset to well-being development.

CherylClient

I saw Theresa when I was going through an incredibly painful experience and felt totally alone. Her non-judgmental, calm and accepting approach immediately allowed me to feel incredibly safe. I felt like it was ok to disclose my deepest fears and not be judged about my reactions and ways of coping. She helped me to heal, to learn and to grow. Under her guidance I was able to accept my experiences and find helpful ways to deal with the difficult emotions I was struggling with. Our work together has continued to help me move forward after our sessions and will continue to be helpful through my life. The time we spent together was effective and I noticed a huge reduction in my symptoms of distress. Theresa was able to sense what I needed and allowed me to be myself. Above all she was genuine and human in her approach, and I wholeheartedly recommend her for anyone seeking guidance and help.

AlisonClient

Theresa is a warm, supportive and pragmatic supervisor. Her vast experience and highly considered judgement are invaluable. I learnt from Theresa in every session, because she valued my time and energy as much as her own — so I always left with what I needed. She challenged me and gave me a robust structure when working with risk, so that I felt I'd attended to my work completely, leaving me confident and reassured. I'd recommend Theresa to anyone looking for a supervisor they can truly learn from — your work will be all the more rich and encompassing for it.

Emma Mackie-WattsSupervisee

I have known Theresa since 2016. Theresa is the most amazing counsellor I've met. Theresa is not only very professional, but also she is a warm and genuine person, who truly understands and cares what I've been through. She always shows the highest degree of empathy and she has “magical powers” to inspire me in many kinds. I really appreciate Theresa's support and love. I have no hesitation in acknowledging Theresa's professionalism.

AngelaClient

I could tell her what I cannot accept. Also, I could get understanding, caring and support from her. Unconsciously, I accepted her way of thinking and adopted it into my life. Then, unexpected changes began. I became brave. I became confident. I understand the responsibility as well as understand that everyone should be responsible for their own. I learned that I should treat myself and others equally. I also knew that I should slowly open my heart.

Now, although difficulties and fears occasionally come back to knock on my door, I'm not afraid anymore. I have decided to face it with new thinking, attitudes and treatments. Besides, I will accept any possible results and take those experiences as learning. I really cannot describe how grateful I am to her.

CatherineClient
Contact me

Schedule a session

Thursdays in Orewa, or online on other days. Send a message and I'll get back to you — or call if you'd rather talk.

Anything you share with me is treated as confidential, in line with the NZ Association of Counsellors Code of Ethics.

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